Forming device



Nov. 10, 1970 B. WOLOSZYN 3,538,647

' FORMING DEV ICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1968 .RW N mZ A 5 N Q i w .WW sh w 5 %N\4 m 5 5 N Q mm. ww g %N-\ Q V. M W.- N, R gs sm mm I Q E m m. Q. \Q A R Q mm & @Qw Q Avromvsy United States Patent 3,538,647 FORMING DEVICE Bronislaw Woloszyn, 638 E. Chester Road, Covina, Calif. 91722 Filed Jan. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 696,616 Int. Cl. B24b 3/00 US. CI. 5195 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A forming device is disclosed which is primarily intended to be used in grinding or cutting threads. The device has a carriage movably mounted on a base. A threaded member on the base is engaged by a threaded shaft so as to move the carriage as a work piece on the carriage is turned. During such movement the work piece moves with respect to a forming member such as a grinding wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Threads are frequently formed by being cut into a work piece through the use of a conventional lathe, through the use of a grinding apparatus and through the use of other related types of equipment. A detailed understanding of the construction of all of such devices is unnecessary to an understanding of the present invention. However, an understanding of this invention requires an understanding of certain of the limitations of various types of equipment commonly used for thread cutting purposes.

In many machine shop and related operations it is frequently necessary to cut first one type of thread and then another type of thread. Such different threads may be metric or based upon the British system of measurement. Further such different threads may have different thread shapes, may be double or single threads, or the like. With the conventional equipment for forming threads found in a machine shop it is frequently difficult if not impossible to form various different types of threads as the occasion may require because of limitations of the equipment normally used.

Because of this, there is a need for new and improved thread forming equipment which can be easily and conveniently used in forming various different types of threads upon a work piece. This need is related to a need for such equipment to be relatively inexpensive, to be exceedingly effective and to be comparatively simple or easy to use. There is also, however, a need for machine shop equipment which can be utilized in a large number of different ways so as to facilitate the manufacture of different types of items such as broaches, and punches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a new and improved forming device which satisfies these and various related needs. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple, effective, relatively inexpensive device which can be used in forming a wide variety of different types of threads upon an appropriate work piece. A related object of the invention is however, to provide a forming device which can be used in creating various other products than threaded products as very specific needs arise.

These objectives of the invention are achieved by providing a forming device having a carriage movably mounted on a base. When the device is used for thread cutting a threaded member such as a nut is located upon the base so as to be in engagement with a threaded shaft on which the threads correspond to the threads to be 3,538,647 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 formed on a work piece. Means are provided so as to simultaneously rotate the threaded shaft and the work piece in order to cause a forming implement such as a grinding wheel to be moved along the work piece in a manner which corresponds to the movement of a threaded shaft with respect to the threaded member. It will be apparent from the subsequent portion of this specification that the forming device of this invention can be used for other than a thread forming operation as herein indicated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The actual details of this invention are best most fully explained by referring to the accompanying drawing showing a presently preferred embodiment or form of a form ing device of this invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a forming device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of this device;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of this device taken in the direction of the arrow 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating parts of modified forming devices of this invention which can be easily incorporated within the forming device shown in the preceding figures.

From a careful consideration of these drawings it will be realized that they are not to be considered as limiting the invention inasmuch as those skilled in the art of machine tool construction will be able to create other differently appearing forming devices utilizing the principles or features of this invention defined by the appended claims through the use of routine engineering skill or ability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The forming device 10 of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing includes a conventional base 12 which is adapted to be located in a fixed position upon an appropriate supporting surface 14. In effect this surface 14 becomes a part of the base 12. The base 12 is provided with a linear internal channel 16, the opposed surfaces of which carry oppositely directed V-shaped grooves 18. The base 12 is surmounted by a carriage having a plate 22 projecting into and fitting closely within the channel 16. This plate 22 is provided with oppositely directed V-shaped grooves 24 corresponding to grooves 18. Between these grooves 18 and 24 there are located conventional ball bearings 26 which serve to support the carriage 20 in such a manner that it may be moved on the base 12 in a linear path.

A head stock 28 is located upon one end of the carriage 20 so as to be positioned on the side of the carriage 20 away from the base 12. This head stock 28 carries through the use of conventional ball bearings 30 a first rotatable shaft 32 and a second rotatable shaft 34. It will be noted that these shafts 3 2 and 34 are parallel to one another and are parallel to the direction in which the carriage 20 may be moved along the channel -16 in the base 12. The shafts 32 and 34 are both hollow; each is provided with an internal tapered end 36. These ends 36 are adapted to receive and engage conventional collets 38 for a purpose as hereinafter described. Each of the shafts 32 and 34 carries a conventional thrust flange 40 engaging the head stock 28. Each of the shafts 32 is held in place with respect to the head stock 28 with its thrust flange 40 engaging the head stock 28 through the use of conventional nuts 42 threaded upon it.

The shafts .32 and 34 also carry identical conventional bead chain sprocket 44. These sprockets 44 are connected by a conventional bead chain 46 so that the shafts 32 and 34 will be caused to move in synchronom with one another in the same direction whenever either of them is rotated. It will be noted that the sprockets 44 and the chain 46 are located within a cavity 48 normally closed by a cover plate 50 forming a part of the complete head stock 28.

In the preferred construction shown a small rotatable wheel 52 carrying a handle 54 is connected to the first shaft 32 by means of a threaded shaft 56. Similarly another such threaded shaft 56 is used so as to mount a conventional pulley 58 upon the second shaft 34. This pulley 58 is preferably engaged with a conventional V or similar belt 60 connected to an appropriate pulley and motor (not shown) for use in supplying power to the device 10. If desired such a pulley and motor can be mounted directly upon an upper surface 62 of the head stock 2 8. With this construction either the handle 54 or the belt 60 can be used to cause the shafts 32 and 34 to rotate in synchronism with one another at the same speed.

The collet 38 carried by the second shaft 34 is normally used so as to hold an extending threaded shaft 64 in such a manner that it projects parallel to the shafts 32 and 34. This shaft 64 is normally threaded into a nut 66 mounted upon a stand 68 extending from the base 12. Preferably the nut 66 is mounted upon the stand 68 through the use of screws 70 so that it is capable of being oriented with respect to the remainder of the device in several different ways by being twisted and connected to the stand 68 in such different positions. It will be noted that as either of the shafts 32 and 34 is turned that the nut 66 does not turn and does not move because of the fact that it is secured to the base 12.

The carriage is provided with a conventional T- shaped slot 72 which extends parallel to the channel 16. -A conventional tail stock 74 is located on the carriage 20 above this slot 72 and is adapted to be secured in place with respect to it through the conventional means of a headed bolt 76. The head of this bolt 76 fits into the slot 72 and extends through the bottom portion of the tail stock 74. The bolt 76 may be tightened in place so as to lock the tail stock 74 against movement through the use of handle 78 on a nut 80. Preferably a guide surface 82 on the tail stock 74 fits closely into the slot 72 so as to permit the tail stock 74 to move only along this slot.

The tail stock 74 carries a conventional center 84 such as is used on a common lathe. This structure is designed so that a cylindrical workpiece 85 may be held by the collet 38 engaged by the first shaft 32 and the tail stock 74 so it will rotate as the shafts 32 and .34 are turned. As the workpiece 85 rotates, it is rotated with respect to what is referred to herein as a forming means 86.

The particular forming means 86 shown consists of a grinding wheel 88 carried by a shaft 90 which in turn is mounted upon a stand 92' through the use of bearings 94. This grinding wheel is adapted to be rotated by power supplied throuhg a V-belt 96 to a pulley 98 upon the shaft 90. It will be noted that the forming means 86 rests upon the surface 14 and is capable of being moved away from and towards the workpiece 86. If desired other known types of forming means such as a lathe cutting tool can be substituted for the precise forming means 86 shown.

As the device .10 is used in its preferred manner of use, either the shaft 32 or the shaft 34 is caused to rotate either by causing rotation of the wheel 52 or by causing power to be supplied through the belt 60. Such rotation of one of these shafts is of course transmitted to the other through the use of the chain 46. As the shaft 34 is rotated the threaded shaft 64 will of course be threaded through the nut 66. Because this nut 66 is a threaded member held stationary with respect to the base 12 this will cause the entire carriage 20 including all parts carried by it to move in the same direction in Which the shaft 64 moves.

From this it will be seen that when either the shafts 32 or 34 is turned two separate types of motion result. The first of these is rotation of the threaded shaft 64 and of the workpiece 85. The second of these is motion along a linear path of the carriage 20. Such movement of the carriage 20 of course moves the carriage 20 and all of the parts carried by it with respect to the forming means 86. When the forming means 86 is in a position as shown to contact the workpiece as a result of these two types of motion it will cut threads in the workpiece 85 which directly correspond to the threads on the threaded shaft 64.

A principal feature of the present invention is that this threaded shaft 64 and the nut 66 may be easily replaced. The threads of the shaft 64 and the nut 66 used at one time should of course always correspond so as to mate. By replacing the shaft 64 and the nut 66 with different shafts and nuts having different types of threads and/or different pitches it is possible to easily and conveniently utilize the entire device 10 to cut virtually any type of threads. Thus, this device 10 can, through the use of an appropriate shaft 64 and nut 66, be used to cut threads in either the metric or British system of measurement.

The collet 38 associated with the second shaft 34 facilitates such changing of the shaft 64 and hence may be termed a coupling means capable of being easily disconnected so as to permit replacement of the shaft 64.

Similarly the collect 38 associated with the shaft 32 is a means for mounting a work piece such as the work piece 85 on the complete device 10 so that such a work piece rotates during rotation of the first shaft 32. It will also be realized that in the complete device 10 the tail stock 74 and associated parts constitute part of the means for mounting the work piece 85. Other various known equivalent means such as chucks can of course be used for mounting purposes although this is not considered preferable.

In the use of the device 10 in the manner previously described it is normally desired to limit the amount that the carriage can be moved so as to avoid cutting threads in an area of the work piece 85 which should remain unthreaded. For this purpose the device 10 includes another T slot 100 upon the carriage 20 directly opposite the stand 92. This slot contains headed bolts 102 which are secured in place by nuts 104 as shown. Various other equivalent mechanisms can of course be used. The stand 92 carries a pin 106 which will engage either of the nuts 104 at the extreme limits of travel, stopping the device.

When the device 10 is to be utilized to out multiple threads such as double threads on the work piece 85 it is possible to accomplish this objective by first cutting a set of threads as indicated in the preceding and then repeating the thread cutting operation with the nut 66 rotated 180 from the position it occupied during the first thread cutting operation. Such rotation of the nut 66 may be easily achieved through the use of the screws 70.

Occasionally it will be desired to use the device 10 for cutting a left-handed thread from a right-handed threaded shaft 64. When it is desired to do this the cover plate 50 is removed and the sprockets 44 and the chain 46 are removed from the device. Then gears 108 as are shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing may be secured on the shafts 32 and 34 so as to take the place of the previously described chain drive for transmitting motion. Such gears 108 will of course cause the shafts 32 and 34 to rotate in opposite directions.

It is not necessary that the device 10 utilize the sprockets 44 and the chain 46 as a means for transmitting motion between these two shafts 32 and 34. Other equivalent means such as the two pinion gears 110 connected by a small idler gear 122 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing may be used within the cavity 48. The idler gear 112 should of course be mounted upon a separate shaft 114 secured to the head stock 28 if it is to be employed. 6.

pinion gears 110 are of course secured to the shafts 32 and 34 in a conventional manner.

A virtue of the complete device is the fact that it can be used for other operations than mere thread cutting. For this purpose a common index dial 116 is preferably secured to the first shaft 32. Further preferably a series such as a series of 24 indexing cylinders 118 mounted upon a mounting ring 120 are preferably secured to this first shaft 32. These cylinders 118 are designed to be engaged by means of an indexing pin 122 as is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. From FIG. 4 of the drawing it will be seen that the indexing pin 122 is mounted within a hole 124 in the head stock 28 and carries a collar 126 capable of sliding within this hole. A retainer plug 128 is threaded within the hole 124 and is provided with a top slot 130. A coil spring 132 is located between the collar 126 and the plug 128 so as to normally bias the pin 122 into a position in which it will engage the interior of a particular cylinder 118 opposite it. Normally the pin 122 is held out of engagement with such a cylinder 118 by means of a cross pin 134 attached to it extending across the top of the plug 128 as shown.

In utilizing the device 10 for grinding operations the chain 46 may be removed from the device so that the shafts 32 and 34 rotate independently of one another. Then, through the use of the wheel 52 and the handle 54 and the pin 122 the index dial 116 may be set in any desired position. Thereafter as the device 10 is operated so as to turn the second shaft 34 a continuous linear cut is made along the work piece 85. A series of such cuts can be made in different locations around the periphery of this work piece in the same manner. The utility of the device 10 for these types of operations is considered to be especially advantageous in enabling the complete device 10 to be utilized in producing broaches, punches and the like.

In order to provide for the device 10 to be utilized for even other operations a second pin 122 is provided on the head stock 28 to be used with another series of cylinders 118 mounted upon another ring 120 which is secured to the second shaft 34. Normally this second shaft is locked in place through the use of these means for looking it in a fixed position only for various specialized types of forming operations. It is considered important that the entire device 10 may be utilized in a number of different ways through the use of normal machinsts ingenuity for various diverse purposes other than merely cutting the threads since this greatly increases the utility of the device 10 in a machine shop.

Because of the nature of this invention it is to be considered as being limited solely by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. A forming device which comprises:

a base;

carriage means mounted on said base so as to be capable of being moved along a predetermined path; head stock means mounted on said carriage means so as to be movable therewith;

first and second shaft means rotatably mounted parallel to one another and to said path on said head stock means;

means for transmitting motion from one of said shaft means to the other of said shaft means connecting said shaft means, said means for transmitting motion being capable of being disconnected;

means for mounting a work piece above said carriage so that said Work piece extends from the first of said shaft means and rotates during rotation of said first of said shaft means;

a threaded member secured to said base adjacent to said carriage;

a threaded shaft connected to said second shaft means so as to be engaged with the threads on said threaded member;

forming means located on said base adjacent to said carriage means so as to be capable of engaging said work piece; and

means for rotating one of said shaft means so as to cause rotation of said first shaft means, and said threaded shaft and said Work piece when said means for transmitting motion are connected, and so as to cause rotation of said threaded shaft when said means for transmitting rotation are connected;

such rotation caused by operation of said means for rotating causing said threaded shaft to move with respect to said threaded member, such motion in turn causing said carriage and said work piece to move with respect to said forming means;

means for locking said first shaft means against rotation in any of a plurality of positions.

2. A forming device as claimed in claim 1 including a stand and wherein:

said threaded member is a nut, and

said nut is capable of being located in a plurality of positions upon said stand, enabling said forming device to be used in creating multiple threads.

3. A forming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said threaded shaft is connected to said second shaft means by coupling means capable of being easily disconnected so as to permit said threaded shaft to be replaced by another different threaded shaft;

said threaded member is a nut and said threaded shaft is threaded into said nut;

said nut is capable of being located in a plurality of positions with respect to said base;

said means for mounting includes a tail stock means mounted on said carriage and coupling means mounted on said first shaft means.

4. A forming device as claimed in claim 1 including:

indexing means located upon said first shaft means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,957 1/1945 Metcalfe 5195 2,407,577 9/ 1946 Rickenmann 51-95 2,513,694 7/ 1950 Turrettini 51-95 X OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. -1154 

